The events listed below are selected for their usefulness to those doing genealogical research of Essex families. Until the town incorporated in 1819, the governing bodies for Chebacco Parish were the Ipswich selectmen and the Parish Commitee. Essex did not record births, marriages, or deaths before 1844. Those records are found in the various ministerial and church archives of the period. For those reasons, local church history is included with this chronology of town history.

Church gathered and organized in Ipswich (Rev. Nathaniel Ward, minister)

Parish organization set up to govern Ipswich settlement

William White and Goodman Bradstreet first two settlers granted land in Chebacco

1679

Rev. Jeremiah Shepard called to preach in Chebacco, in private homes

1680

John Wise engaged to preach in Chebacco

One acre of ground granted to Chebacco Parish for a burial place

1682

Chebacco people officially released from membership in the First Church in Ipswich

1683

Organization and gathering of Chebacco Church - officially known as the Second Church in Ipswich

John Wise ordained as the first minister of Chebacco Church

Organization of Chebacco Parish as the governing body for the settlement - officially the Second Parish in Ipswich

First "training day" for citizen soldiers in Chebacco

1700

Chebacco (population about 300) consisted of a church, a school, a military company, five sawmills, one shipyard, three bridges, two causeways. Farming, fishing, and boat building the major occupations.

1712

Burying ground fenced in by a stone wall

1725

Death of Rev. John Wise

Rev. Theophilus Pickering became second minister of Chebacco Church

1746

Dissention in Chebacco Church and Parish, causing a rift among the people; formation of the Separated Church ('Separatist Society") which became officially the Fourth Church in Ipswich

Ebenezer Cleaveland, brother of John Cleaveland, minister in Separated Church first six months

1747

Rev. John Cleaveland ordained as minister of the Separated Church

1749

Death of Rev. Theophilus Pickering

1750

Nehemiah Porter ordained as minister of the original Chebacco Church (January)

1752

"Separatists" gained official release from Chebacco Parish and were granted a separate precinct - officially the Sixth Parish in Ipswich

1766

Nehemiah Porter resigned

Proceedings started for reuniting 2nd and 4th Churches (Chebacco Church and Separated Church)

1768

Informal agreement by both churches to worship together temporarily, one half a year in each meeting house with Rev. John Cleaveland assuming the ministry for both churches (1766-1775)